Mark Warner in Politico.com

On Civil Rights: Switched to supporting same-sex marriage in 2013

Gillespie reiterated his personal opposition to same-sex marriage, but he said it is a state issue: "I respect and love people for who they are," the Republican said. "I believe marriage is between one man and one woman. But I also believe that as a senator, it's not my role to legislate on that." Pressed, he said he would vote no if a statewide referendum came up to repeal the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

Warner switched his position to endorse gay marriage in March 2013.

Source: Politico.com weblog on 2014 Virginia Senate debate Jul 26, 2014

On Free Trade: Renew Export-Import Bank to support U.S. businesses globally

Gillespie cited opposition to the Export-Import Bank as evidence of his independence.

Warner noted that the Republican-leaning National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce both support renewing the Export-Import Bank. "It supports American businesses in a global economy, giving them a financial backstop," he said.

Gillespie noted that he understands the arguments for the bank. "I have a lot of friends who support the Export-Import bank, believe me," he said. "I think it's an area where we can get some savings. I know it's hard to stand up to the Chamber of Commerce [and] the National Association of Manufacturers," Gillespie added, but that's the job of a senator."

Source: Politico.com weblog on 2014 Virginia Senate debate Jul 26, 2014

On Immigration: Send migrant kids back to Central America, after processing

Both men agreed that migrant children should be sent back to Central America: Gillespie declined to take a position on the bill introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), which would prohibit any further expansion of Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program that shields some young undocumented immigrants from deportation. "I have not seen the bill," said Gillespie. "I haven't seen Sen. Cruz's bill, but I think President Obama overreached, and we're seeing the consequences today. The compassionate response is to make clear, 'Don't keep doing this, don't keep sending these children here, because they are not going to be afforded American citizenship,'" he added. "The most compassionate thing we can do is for them to return to their parents."

Warner emphasized the need to speed up the processing of these children, but he said "many of these children will be sent home. That process will result in some of those kids going back, but there ought to be a process," he said.

Source: Politico.com weblog on 2014 Virginia Senate debate Jul 26, 2014

On War & Peace: Keep military action on the table against Iran

There was general agreement on foreign policy: Both Warner and Gillespie agreed that the U.S. should never take military action off the table against Iran, and that Israel is America's closest ally in the Middle East.

On keeping troops in Afghanistan, [the debate moderator]asked whether Gillespie is closer to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) or Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). He did not directly answer, but he sounded a lot closer to the McCain view in arguing that troops should be there "as long as they're serving our national security interests."

Warner said he thinks Colin Powell was right when he said "you break it, you own it."

"Pottery Barn," Gillespie interjected.

Source: Politico.com weblog on 2014 Virginia Senate debate Jul 26, 2014

The above quotations are from Columns and news articles on Politico.com. Click here for other excerpts from Columns and news articles on Politico.com. Click here for other excerpts by Mark Warner. Click here for a profile of Mark Warner.
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org! Click for details -- or send donations to: 1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140 E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org (We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Aug 15, 2024